french family holiday
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Not only is France famous for its ancient wine-making culture and the diversity of its great wine regions, it is also home to the most charming wine-making villages, which will delight any curious visitor making a pilgrimage to these wine regions. The vineyards are not all the same, not by any means, but they all deserve at least one visit!
Although the renown and prestige of the listed Médoc and Graves vintages contribute heavily to the Bordeaux region's image, the major appeal of this region does not lie in the villages themselves (Pauillac, Margaux, Pessac, Sauternes, etc.) but rather the chateaux and chartreuses (manor houses) that nestle in amongst the vines, essentially built during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The village of Saint-Emilion, however, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the other side of the Dordogne (i.e. on the Right Bank), is a must! The same could be said of the Val de Loire vineyards: whilst a stroll along the steep and windy little streets of the famous wine-making district (and appellation) of Vouvray, for example, is to be strongly recommended, the principal attraction of this region is again to be found outside the villages. Indeed, it would be unthinkable not to include a tour of the different Loire valley Chateaux, which are also listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Amongst others, Chambord, Blois, Chenonceau and Azay-le-Rideau evoke the glorious cultural and wine-making past of the region, where François 1 set up court in the Renaissance era. Further upstream, you penetrate right into the heart of France. Visit Sancerre, for example, where the charm of the old town is not to be missed and will inspire you to taste a few of the Chavignol wines, accompanied by its famous goats cheese.
Burgundy is a major wine-making region that boasts numerous legendary vintages. Its villages, however, have less to offer in the way of architectural jewels. Indeed the development of the region’s wine estates and the modernisation of equipment has too often been carried out to the detriment of the old stone buildings. Nevertheless, a few districts, such as Volnay (an old village with ancient houses) or Aloxe-Corton (whose houses are famous for their huge roofs and coloured tiles) have preserved their traditional charm. The old town of Beaune (famous for its wine) deserves a lengthy visit on foot, and especially the town’s fortifications and the square that surrounds the legendary Hospice. In Vézelay, renowned for its religious architecture, you can soak up the atmosphere of the pilgrims’ route to Santiago di Compostella. Further to the north, in the Yonne department, the little village of Irancy also deserves a mention…a haven of tranquillity surrounded by vine-covered slopes that form a protective bowl.
Further afield, the Provence region is of course a must, with its charming port of Cassis, where vines line the limestone hilltops that hang over the famous ‘Calanques’ (rocky coves). Or perhaps the Jura, with its majestic Château Chalon (the highpoint of the region), which looks over the vineyards of this eponymous appellation. But most importantly, special attention should to paid to the Alsace region, the most endearing winemaking area in France on account of its architectural charm! Here, each village is unique, with its coloured houses and their wooden facades that have warped over the years.